wisconsin gardener

I woke up on Saturday at 5:30am after working more than fifty hours in a week. I needed a spark of joy after such a stressful week at work. To inject some joy into my spirits I knew just what to do, I went and grabbed my box of happiness! A box full of plant tags from the garden so I can keep track of what I have in the gardens.

Opening the box of labels immediately sends my brain in to planning and designing mode. I think of the Japanese maples I have purchased as foundation plants. All but one of my Japanese maples have survived the harsh, unpredictable Northeast Wisconsin winters. In the box are also small paper bags from when I purchased Caladium bulbs last year.

I am glad that I kept the labeled bags that last year’s Caladium bulbs came in. I received the Proven Winners inspiration book in the mail, but PW Caladiums are expensive, so I found an Etsy shop selling Caladiums that gave me the sizes and varieties I wanted without going broke. I also found tall red canna bulbs and variegated canna bulbs. I had fun creating large pots full of height and color all around the yard.

For the 2021 season, I chose Peppermint, Fiesta, Spring Fling, Raspberry Moon, and Marie Moir caladiums. The caladiums did wonderfully throughout the growing season except for the beetles that came in a wave and ate holes in the leaves. I was stunned at the color that I can have in such dark areas of my yard. I rescued a gorgeous amber colored ninebark from death in the dark corner of my yard. In 2021, I had some hidden large containers between the house and the garage with Canna, Coleus, and Brunnera. The striped reddish leaves of the canna were eye-catching but hidden behind my wood gate.

For 2022, I just ordered Marie Moir, White Queen, Red Flash, Pink Cloud, Dragon Heart, Gypsy Rose, and Florida Fantasy. My intention is to have a small, raised bed in the darkest corner of my yard for a pop of color. I imagine I will pair the caladiums with some Jack Frost Brunnera. This new season, I ordered more of the same Canna bulbs to add a line of large containers to the front yard. I was debating which side of the driveway to plant to get the most sun exposure.

Tackling the front yard landscape is on my list of 2022 projects. I am hoping to get rid of the concrete edging that outlines such minimal space next to the house. I want to create a fun and mesmerizing front yard experience. My house is unique because the surrounding homes are taller and closer to the street. It was said that my home was the last one built on the street so I can give it an extra bit of attention for the neighborhood.